Diagrams: Useful tools for investigating a student’s understanding of buoyancy in teaching science

Creagh, C. (2008) Diagrams: Useful tools for investigating a student’s understanding of buoyancy in teaching science. Teaching Science, 54 (4). pp. 48-50.

Abstract

Sometimes it is difficult to decide whether a student has a true understanding of a physics concept or whether they are very good at rote learning key words and phrases. Sometimes, when you are marking exams, you feel you have to give the student full marks because everything is there, even though it is not quite "right". This is where a diagram can be very useful in probing the student's understanding. In this paper I have attempted to show that diagrams can play a role in helping us to determine the level of understanding a student has about the concept of buoyancy.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	School of Engineering and Energy
Publisher:	Australian Science Teachers Association.
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/25160

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